SHUKALB Participates at the Project CrossWater+ Conference “Sustainable Water Management: Challenges and Good Practices in Albania, Montenegro, and Italy”

On June 27, 2025, in Tirana, SHUKALB participated at a one-day conference organized in framework of the Project CrossWater+ titled “Sustainable Water Management: Challenges and Good Practices in Albania, Montenegro, and Italy.”

The conference was organized by Tirana Water Supply and Sewerage Company (Tirana WSS Company) and brought together experts from Albania, Montenegro, and Italy to discuss shared challenges and innovative practices in the field of water resource management. The event featured presentations on a range of important topics, including smart water management, leakage reduction technologies, national water policies, and wastewater treatment practices.

Participants included representatives from the Municipality of Tirana, Tirana WSS Company, the World Bank, Acquedotto Pugliese (Italy), Regional Waterworks of the Montenegrin Coast, Water Resources Management Agency of Albania, Water Regulatory Authority, private companies and SHUKALB. Notably, the Italian and Montenegrin speakers joined the conference online, contributing valuable international perspectives.

SHUKALB was represented by Alban Kushi, Manager of Member Services, who delivered a presentation titled “SHUKALB Capacity Development Efforts: Paving the Way Towards a Professional and Skilled Water Sector Workforce in Albania.” In his presentation, Mr. Kushi highlighted SHUKALB’s longstanding work in capacity development, including the National Training and Test-Based Certification Program, SHUKALB Training Program, D-LeaP initiatives, joint efforts with SHUKOS, and contributions under the RCDN project.

His presentation underscored the ongoing need for structured staff development in water utilities, calling for sustainable budgeting practices and institutional incentives that support professional training. He emphasized the importance of establishing a national certification system as a critical step in building a qualified workforce for the sector.

The conference offered SHUKALB a valuable platform to share its efforts and also to learn from other national and international experiences. It reaffirmed the importance of regional cooperation in tackling complex water challenges and confirmed that joint initiatives and shared expertise are essential for achieving sustainable water management.